Robert Duvall

Widely hailed as one of the greatest actors of his generation, Robert Duvall was something of a late bloomer in Hollywood. Making his acclaimed debut at 31 years old as Arthur "Boo" Radley in "To Kill...
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Whiplash star J.K. Simmons has kicked off the celebrations at the 87th Oscars by walking away with the first prize of the night for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
The 60-year-old first-time nominee was the favourite heading into Sunday's (22Feb15) ceremony after adding an Independent Spirit Award to his Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA accolades on Saturday (21Feb15), and he continued his awards season victory parade by beating fellow contenders Robert Duvall (The Judge), Ethan Hawke (Boyhood), Edward Norton (Birdman) and Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher) to claim the top Oscar.
Stepping up to the podium, Simmons gave thanks to his "wonderful" wife Michelle Schumacher, and then urged people everywhere to call their parents and tell them they loved them. He said, "Call your mum, call your dad. If you're lucky enough to have a parent or two alive on this planet, call them. Don't text, don't email, call them on the phone, tell them you love them and thank them and listen to them as long as they want to talk to you. Thank you. Thank you mum and dad."
Ceremony host Neil Patrick Harris opened the 2015 prizegiving at Los Angeles' Dolby Theatre by poking fun at the lack of diversity among this year's Oscars nominations, quipping, "Welcome to the 87th Oscars. Tonight we honor Hollywood's best and whitest, sorry brightest...!" He then launched into a song and dance number with Anna Kendrick, dressed as Cinderella, and actor/rocker Jack Black as an outspoken, disgruntled audience member, who leaped up onstage and belted out his complaints in a little melody, before he was kicked off stage.
Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel lead the 2015 nominees with nine nods apiece, followed by The Imitation Game with eight.

Winona Ryder, Robert Duvall, Andie Macdowell and Jeff Bridges were among the stars who offered up tributes to Michael Keaton as he received a top honour at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in California. Keaton was handed the Modern Master Award during a ceremony at Santa Barbara's historic Arlington Theatre on Saturday night (31Jan15), and he was feted with a two-hour tribute in honour of his Hollywood career.
A number of his friends and former colleagues offered tributes to Keaton as part of the event, including his Beetlejuice co-star Ryder, who recorded a video message for her friend, saying, "I cannot tell you how many times I've heard people not being able to decide what their favorite Michael Keaton movie is because there are so many great ones."
Danny DeVito, who appeared opposite caped crusader Keaton in Batman Returns, made an appearance at the event to fete the actor in person, along with his Multiplicity co-star Andie MacDowell, who called Keaton an "an inspiration and a friend".
Other video tributes came in from Keaton's neighbour Jeff Bridges, his A Shot at Glory co-star Robert Duvall, and Birdman director Alejandro G. Inarritu.
When he took to the stage to collect his award, Keaton told the audience, "Wow, I think I'm gonna pass out... This is overwhelming... Thank you for a wonderful night."
Keaton is riding high on critical acclaim for his latest film Birdman and is set to compete for an Academy Award for the role later this month (Feb15).

James Franco has landed his biggest directorial coup to date after snagging his Spring Breakers co-star Selena Gomez and heavyweights Vincent D'onofrio, Ed Harris and Robert Duvall for his next project. Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston and Danny McBride have also signed on for In Dubious Battle, which will be directed by Franco.
The film, based on John Steinbeck's 1936 novel of the same name, is set in a fictional valley in California and focuses on a labour conflict between migrant apple pickers and the local growers’ association.
Principal photography will commence in March (15).

Actress Kerry Washington has been chosen as the honorary chair for the 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Members of the Film Independent organisation have handed the Scandal star the position, which is given to someone who "exemplifies outstanding artistic achievement and embodies Film Independent's mission to nurture and support creative independence in visual storytelling."
Washington follows in the footsteps of Angela Bassett, Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, Benicio Del Toro, Robert Duvall, Jodie Foster, Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore, and Martin Scorsese.
The 30th Independent Spirit Awards will be held in Los Angeles on 21 February (15), the day before the Academy Awards.

Brad Pitt amused attendees at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Saturday night (03Jan15) by breaking into an impromptu song to teach fans and critics alike how to properly pronounce David Oyelowo's name. The Hollywood superstar helped to produce Oyelowo's new Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic, Selma, through his Plan B Productions company, and he took it upon himself at the California event to teach others how to say the British actor's Nigerian last name.
Before introducing the Lee Daniels' The Butler star to the stage to present him with the Breakthrough Performance Award (Male), Pitt said, "I know that there is one lingering question in the back of your minds and that question is, how the hell do you pronounce his name? It's all right, I've been there, and I'm here to help."
He proceeded to lead the crowd in a sing-along pronunciation of Oyelowo's name to the tune of popular soccer chant, Ole, Ole, Ole.
Turning serious, he then hailed Oyelowo as "a man whose name will one day be synonymous with (Sidney) Poitier and (Sir Laurence) Olivier."
As a flattered Oyelowo stepped up to the platform to accept his prize, he quipped, "You know you've 'broken through' when Brad Pitt sings your name!"
The ceremony also featured touching tributes from Shirley MacLaine, who presented Boyhood director Richard Linklater with the Sonny Bono Visionary Award, while Laura Dern was on hand to honour Reese Witherspoon with the Chairman's Award, and Robert Downey, Jr. celebrated the career of his The Judge co-star and Icon Award recipient Robert Duvall, who was so moved by the honour, he struggled to fight back tears.

Birdman looks set to win big at the 2015 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards after scooping four nominations. The drama has been shortlisted for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, while actors Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone have each landed a nod for their roles.
The Imitation Game, The Theory of Everything and Boyhood closely follow with three nominations each, including the Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture category, which is rounded out by The Grand Budapest Hotel.
Benedict Cumberbatch will compete against Steve Carell (Foxcatcher), Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Keaton (Birdman) for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
Jennifer Aniston has landed a leading actress nomination for her turn in Cake, and she will be up against Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), and Reese Witherspoon (Wild).
Nominees for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role including Robert Duvall (The Judge), Ethan Hawke (Boyhood), Edward Norton (Birdman), Mark Ruffalo (Foxcatcher), and J.K. Simmons (Whiplash).
Keira Knightley is up for a supporting actress prize for her turn as codebreaker Joan Clarke and will compete against Boyhood's Patricia Arquette. Other nominees include Meryl Streep (Into the Woods), Emma Stone (Birdman) and Naomi Watts (St. Vincent).
In TV, Modern Family is the one to beat with four nominations across the comedy categories, while House of Cards scooped three nods in the drama categories.
The Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series category was expanded to six nominations due to a tie, and competitors include Dame Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey), Claire Danes (Homeland), Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Viola Davis (How to Get Away with Murder), Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife), and Robin Wright (House of Cards).
Cumberbatch and Ruffalo are both up for two awards at the ceremony. In addition their movie prizes, they will compete for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries - Cumberbatch for his role in Sherlock: His Last Vow and Ruffalo for The Normal Heart.
The winners will be announced live on 25 January (15).

Gone Girl and The Imitation Game were the big winners at the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards on Friday night (14Nov14) after taking home seven honors between them.
The David Fincher thriller, starring Ben Affleck as a cheating husband who is suspected of killing his wife, earned the top prize of Hollywood Film, while Gillian Flynn took home the Hollywood Screenwriter award for turning her bestselling book into a movie of the same name.
The Imitation Game was a quadruple winner, earning Benedict Cumberbatch Hollywood Actor and Keira Knightley Hollywood Supporting Actress for their portrayals of famous World War Two encryption specialists Alan Turing and Joan Clarke, while filmmaker Morten Tyldum was named Hollywood Director and Alexandre Desplat earned the title of Hollywood Film Composer.
New dad Robert Downey, Jr. took time out of diaper duties to celebrate his The Judge co-star Robert Duvall as Hollywood Supporting Actor, the first award of the night, while Angelina Jolie honored Jack O'Connell with the New Hollywood award for his performance as Olympian-turned-war hero Louis Zamperini in Unbroken.
The Hollywood Film Awards, which recognize "excellence in the art of cinema and filmmaking", serves as the official launch of the Hollywood awards season. The ceremony was hosted by Queen Latifah from the Hollywood Palladium and featured appearances from Jennifer Lopez, Johnny Depp, Laura Dern, Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz, Robert Pattinson, Hilary Swank, Jonah Hill and Geena Davis.
The main list of winners at the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards is:
Hollywood Film - Gone Girl
Hollywood Blockbuster - Guardians of the Galaxy
Hollywood Actor - Benedict Cumberbatch, The Imitation Game
Hollywood Actress - Julianne Moore, Still Alice
Hollywood Supporting Actor - Robert Duvall, The Judge
Hollywood Supporting Actress - Keira Knightley, The Imitation Game
Hollywood Breakout Performance, Actor - Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything
Hollywood Breakout Performance, Actress - Shailene Woodley, The Fault In Our Stars
Hollywood Director - Morten Tyldum, The Imitation Game
Hollywood Breakthrough Director - Jean-Marc Vallee, Wild
Hollywood Screenwriter - Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl
Hollywood Ensemble - Foxcatcher
Hollywood Career Achievement - Michael Keaton
New Hollywood - Jack O'Connell, Unbroken
Hollywood Documentary - Supermensch: The Legend of Shep Gordon
Hollywood Comedy Film - Top Five
Hollywood Animation - How To Train Your Dragon 2
Hollywood Cinematography - Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman
Hollywood International - Jing Tian
Hollywood Visual Effects - Scott Farrar, Transformers: Age of Extinction
Hollywood Film Composer - Alexandre Desplat, The Imitation Game
Hollywood Song - Janelle Monae, Rio 2
Hollywood Costume Design - Milena Canonero, The Grand Budapest Hotel
Hollywood Editor - Jay Cassidy and Dody Dorn, Fury
Hollywood Production Design - Dylan Cole and Gary Freeman, Maleficent
Hollywood Sound - Ren Klyce, Gone Girl
Hollywood Makeup and Hairstyling - David White and Elizabeth Yanni-Georgiou, Guardians of the Galaxy.

"I've been on this planet a long time, I've had a few other better halves, but she's the best better half I've ever had." Robert Duvall pays a humorous tribute to his fourth wife, Luciana Pedraza, as he accepts the Hollywood Supporting Actor at the 2014 Hollywood Film Awards. The couple wed in 2005.

Played the title role in George Lucas' feature directing debut "THX 1138"; executive produced by Coppola

Received critical acclaim for writing, directing, and starring as a Pentecostal Christian preacher in "The Apostle"; earned an Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay, and SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor

Co-starred in "A Civil Action" as the opposing counsel to John Travolta; earned sixth career Oscar nomination as Best Supporting Actor

First movie with director Robert Altman and actor James Caan, "Countdown"

Portrayed General Robert E. Lee in the Civil War drama "Gods and Generals"

Co-starred with Robert De Niro for "True Confessions"

Made off-Broadway debut in George Bernard Shaw's "Mrs. Warren's Profession"

Reprised the role of Tom Hagen for "The Godfather, Part II"

First teamed with Billy Bob Thornton for "The Stars Fell on Henrietta"

First film with Marlon Brando, "The Chase"; adapted from Foote's story and play

First association with playwright Horton Foote, the NY production of "The Midnight Caller"

Returned to Broadway to appear as Walter Cole in David Mamet's "American Buffalo"

Gained notice for his performance of Eddie in Arthur Miller's "A View From the Bridge"; Dustin Hoffman was the assistant director

Earned rave reviews for his portrayal of television executive Frank Hackett in Sidney Lumet's "Network"

Played the title role in HBO biopic "Stalin"; nominated for an Emmy Award

Summary

Widely hailed as one of the greatest actors of his generation, Robert Duvall was something of a late bloomer in Hollywood. Making his acclaimed debut at 31 years old as Arthur "Boo" Radley in "To Kill a Mockingbird" (1962), Duvall was a decade older when he played Tom Hagen, valued consigliere and adopted son of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) in "The Godfather" (1972) and "The Godfather, Part II" (1974). While not exactly matinee idol material, he unquestionably possessed a wide range that allowed him to play bullying corporate executive Frank Hackett in "Network" (1976), self-determined surfing fanatic Col. Kilgore in "Apocalypse Now" (1979), and hard-nosed Marine officer Bull Meechum in "The Great Santini" (1979). In the following decade, he won an Oscar for his performance as a washed-up country singer in "Tender Mercies" (1983), before playing a sportswriter in "The Natural" (1984) and a veteran cop in "Colors" (1988). On television, Duvall earned awards for turns as Gus McRae in "Lonesome Dove" (CBS, 1989) and Joseph Stalin in "Stalin" (HBO, 1992), though he stepped back into supporting roles on film with "Sling Blade" (1996). He earned acclaim for directing "The Apostle" (1997), while turns in the Westerns "Open Range" (2003) and "Broken Trail" (AMC, 2006) only bolstered his reputation. Still in great demand well into his seventies, Duvall showed no signs of slowing down well into the new millennium.

Married Aug. 22, 1982; She was associate producer in his film "Angelo, My Love" (1983); Divorced 1986

Education

Name

Principia College

The Principia School

The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre

Notes

Duvall claimed he was related to Robert E. Lee (way back) on his mother's side. His paternal grandfather's name was Abraham Lincoln Duvall.

Duvall turned down a reported $1 million to reprise the role of Hagan for "The Godfather, Part III" (1990). It was widely reportedly that he wanted a salary on par with co-stars Al Pacino and Diane Keaton, who received $3 million and $1.5 million respectively.

"Mr. Duvall is a very special actor in that he doesn't have to be noisily [or even quietly] busy to assert his control over character and the audience's attention. The camera sees everything he does, which, when one tries to describe it, seems to be nothing at at all. The behavior becomes somehow riveting." – Vincent Canby in his New York Times review of "Convicts," Dec. 6, 1991

"Stripping away artifice – it's the constant standard I aim for in acting, to approximate life. People talk about being bigger than life – but there's nothing bigger than life." – Duvall quoted in The Los Angeles Times, Dec. 21, 1993

"You're always looking for a way into the part. I've always remembered something Sanford Meisner, my acting teacher, told us. When you create a character, it's like making a chair, except instead of making something out of wood, you make it out of yourself. That's the actor's craft – using yourself to create a character." – Duvall quoted in The Los Angeles Times, March 18, 1998

On his auteur turn with "The Apostle": "It's been accepted by the secular hip community – the film people – and by the religious people as well [Billy Graham called it 'a compass pointing toward the 21st century'], and they're the toughest. I feel I'm a better person for making the movie; there's a certain sense of accomplishment that maybe I've made something that matters." – Duvall quoted in the London Times, June 3, 1998

"You get to a certain point where your career kind of works for itself – although you can never take that for granted." – Duvall to Esquire magazine, January 2011